{"id":110168,"date":"2023-08-07T12:06:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-07T16:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=110168"},"modified":"2023-08-08T12:07:33","modified_gmt":"2023-08-08T16:07:33","slug":"tourism-carbon-footprint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/tourism-carbon-footprint\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Offset Tourism&#8217;s Carbon Footprint &#038; Travel Responsibly"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>How much pollution does the tourism industry actually cause? Is it possible to travel the world without polluting it? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When we travel, we\u2019re supposed to \u201cleave nothing but footprints,\u201d but tourism&#8217;s carbon footprints can wreak havoc on the planet. Thankfully, there are ways to travel responsibly and to give back to local communities, wildlife, and the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some tips for seeing the world without harming it in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-traveling-produces-8-11-of-global-carbon-emissions\"><strong>Traveling Produces 8-11% of Global Carbon Emissions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unwto.org\/news\/tourism-on-track-for-full-recovery-as-new-data-shows-strong-start-to-2023\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tourism industry is bouncing back<\/a> after a tough couple of years during the Covid-19 pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is great news in some ways: <a href=\"https:\/\/globaledge.msu.edu\/blog\/post\/55748\/the-importance-of-tourism-on-economies-a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tourism is important to the economy<\/a> as it opens up business opportunities and creates jobs. It also allows people to get to know other cultures and, on an individual level, it <a href=\"https:\/\/campuspress-test.yale.edu\/tribune\/scientifically-proven-health-benefits-of-traveling-abroad\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">can improve mental, physical, and emotional health<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the travel boom also comes with a downside: According to studies, the tourism&#8217;s carbon footprint is responsible for <a href=\"https:\/\/action.wttc.org\/climate-environment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">8-11% of global carbon emissions<\/a>, the greenhouse gases that lead to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/app\/article\/youth-activists-sue-for-the-right-to-a-healthy-environment-shortform-explainers-shortform\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">climate change<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tourism-s-effects-beyond-carbon-emissions\">Tourism\u2019s Effects Beyond Carbon Emissions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Aside from contributing to carbon emissions, traveling can also degrade environmentally and culturally important sites. Many vacation hotspots suffer from <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/overtourism-a-growing-global-problem-100029\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">overtourism<\/a>, where having too many visitors leads to problems like increased traffic, pollution, and waste. Additionally, overtourism forces locals to alter their lifestyles\u2014or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0160738321001420\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">displaces them altogether<\/a>\u2014as a result of overcrowding and increased housing prices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Changes will have to come from key players and policymakers: Airlines and cruise companies, for example, can switch to more sustainable fuels, and local governments can address overtourism by limiting the number of visitors to popular spots. But such <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oneplanetnetwork.org\/programmes\/sustainable-tourism\/glasgow-declaration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">changes may take years<\/a>. Here, we\u2019ll discuss some things <em>you<\/em> can do in the meantime to make tourism more sustainable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-destination-consider-where-and-when\"><strong>Destination: Consider Where and When<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can start <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/guides\/travel\/how-to-travel-sustainably\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">traveling more sustainably<\/a> by opting for eco-friendly destinations. Instead of vacationing in crowd favorites like France and Hawaii, <strong>choose <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelandleisureasia.com\/in\/trips\/the-conscious-traveller\/international-destinations-that-will-leave-lighter-carbon-footprint\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>places that are making efforts to protect the environment<\/strong><\/a>. An under-the-radar destination is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitljubljana.com\/en\/about-us\/sustainable-tourism-in-ljubljana\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ljubljana, Slovenia<\/a>, one of Europe\u2019s greenest cities. Not only does it have a 12-hectare car-free zone, a field-to-table approach to food production, and sustainability certification programs, but it also has the architecture, history, and markets that draw tourists to more popular neighboring countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-support-places-in-recovery\">Support Places in Recovery<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelweekly.com\/Travel-News\/Tour-Operators\/Recovery-mode\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Consider visiting places recovering from disasters<\/a> to help them get back on their feet. Your support can help locals and businesses that are reeling from the effects of reduced tourism. For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/guides\/travel\/how-to-travel-sustainably\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tourism helped Puerto Rico recover after a hurricane<\/a> in 2017.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-summer-isn-t-the-only-time-to-travel\">Summer Isn\u2019t the Only Time to Travel<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>If you <em>must<\/em> stay on the beaten path, consider <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tourradar.com\/days-to-come\/off-season-travel-calendar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">traveling during off-peak seasons<\/a>. You\u2019ll <strong>avoid the crowds, score cheaper rates, get more attentive service, and help tourism staff stay afloat<\/strong> during lean months. You\u2019ll also have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/7-benefits-traveling-in-the-off-season\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">experiences that travelers don\u2019t have access to in the summer months<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-transportation-planes-trains-or-automobiles\"><strong>Transportation: Planes, Trains, or Automobiles?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To get an idea of <a href=\"https:\/\/applications.icao.int\/icec\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">your carbon footprint when you fly<\/a>, an economy class return flight from New York to Paris emits about 1,411.50 pounds of CO2 per passenger\u2014that\u2019s about 14% of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iea.org\/commentaries\/the-world-s-top-1-of-emitters-produce-over-1000-times-more-co2-than-the-bottom-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">an average person\u2019s carbon footprint per year<\/a>. The number is as much as <a href=\"https:\/\/documents.worldbank.org\/en\/publication\/documents-reports\/documentdetail\/141851468168853188\/calculating-the-carbon-footprint-from-different-classes-of-air-travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">three times higher if you\u2019re flying business class<\/a> (even more for first class) since the space you take up is the equivalent of several seats in coach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s ideal to take a train instead of a plane\u2014at 0.21 (Eurostar) to 1.4 ounces of carbon emissions per passenger per kilometer traveled, trains leave a smaller carbon footprint than domestic flights (4.69 oz), cars (1.52-6.03 oz, depending on number of passengers), and buses (3.67 oz). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If flying is your only option, minimize your carbon footprint by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/climate-change\/sustainable-living\/sustainable-flights-flying-travel-emissions-b1891586.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">choosing a seat in economy class and flying direct<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-about-cruise-ships\">What About Cruise Ships?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Is taking to the sea a better option than taking to the skies? Some experts say no. One study found that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0261517711002081\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cruise ship passengers\u2019 carbon footprint is three to four times greater per kilometer<\/a> than airline passengers\u2019. Added to that, cruise ship passengers sometimes have to fly to the port where they\u2019ll board, increasing their total emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelpulse.com\/news\/cruise\/top-takeaways-from-clias-2023-state-of-the-cruise-industry-outlook-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">one of the fastest-growing sectors<\/a> in the tourism industry, cruise ships contribute to overtourism as they offload thousands of passengers at every stop\u2014the problem is so severe that some cities have even <a href=\"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/travel\/2023\/04\/20\/cruise-ships-erosion-air-pollution-and-overtourism-are-driving-cities-towards-bans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">banned cruise ships from docking<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-make-up-for-your-emissions-with-carbon-offsets\">Make Up for Your Emissions With Carbon Offsets<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>One way to scrub away your carbon footprint is to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2019\/07\/24\/climate\/nyt-climate-newsletter-carbon-offsets.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">buy carbon offsets<\/a>\u2014the money funds projects that fight climate change, such as reforestation and landfill management schemes. And <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cooleffect.org\/travel-offset\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">it doesn\u2019t cost much<\/a>: Offsetting a 12-hour economy-class flight will set you back about $15. Just be sure to send your money to a legitimate project. Some airlines offer carbon offsets when you purchase a ticket, but you can also compute your carbon footprint and find United Nations-certified projects <a href=\"https:\/\/unfccc.int\/climate-action\/united-nations-carbon-offset-platform\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>. But keep in mind though that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2022\/05\/18\/climate\/offset-carbon-footprint-air-travel.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">carbon offsets don\u2019t make up for 100% of emissions<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-accommodations-think-green\"><strong>Accommodations: Think Green<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Look into staying at eco-friendly hotels, which have a minimal impact on the environment and are conscientious of the local culture. Websites like <a href=\"https:\/\/bookdifferent.com\/en\/responsible-destinations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bookdifferent.com<\/a> have a list of recommendations for certified green accommodations. But sometimes, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cntraveler.com\/story\/ways-to-travel-more-responsibly?redirectURL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cntraveler.com%2Fstory%2Fways-to-travel-more-responsibly\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">eco-friendly options may not have certifications<\/a>: Small businesses may not be able to afford certification processes, and sustainability may be second nature\u2014rather than a buzzword\u2014to indigenous communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-activities\"><strong>Activities<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have activities to check off your bucket list, be sure to do your research. For example, if you plan to go <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/travel\/article\/how-to-whale-watch-responsibly?loggedin=true&amp;rnd=1690231385284\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">whale watching<\/a>, read up on the rules of your chosen destination beforehand so you\u2019ll know if your tour operator is following regulations to keep whales safe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How much pollution does the tourism industry actually cause? Is it possible to travel the world without polluting it? When we travel, we\u2019re supposed to \u201cleave nothing but footprints,\u201d but tourism&#8217;s carbon footprints can wreak havoc on the planet. Thankfully, there are ways to travel responsibly and to give back to local communities, wildlife, and the planet. Here are some tips for seeing the world without harming it in the process.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":110191,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,24],"tags":[727],"class_list":["post-110168","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","category-society","tag-articles","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.3 (Yoast SEO v24.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Offset Tourism&#039;s Carbon Footprint &amp; Travel Responsibly - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Tourism comes at the cost of a high carbon footprint. Here are some things you can do to offset your footprint and make sustainable choices.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/tourism-carbon-footprint\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Offset Tourism&#039;s Carbon Footprint &amp; Travel Responsibly\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Tourism comes at the cost of a high carbon footprint. 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